Starc pips Cummins to become leading wicket-taker in WTC history

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Mitchell Starc etched his name in the history books as the Australia pacer became the leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship (WTC) history, producing a sensational spell against Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay on Saturday.

Starc tore through Bangladesh’s batting line-up and finished with great figures of 6-12 as Australia bowled the visitors out for just 64 after winning the toss and opting to field first.

The veteran pacer’s stunning spell saw him overtake Australia teammate Pat Cummins to become the highest wicket-taker in WTC history. He now has 230 wickets in 56 matches, moving ahead of Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who have 225 wickets each.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah complete the top five with 195 and 185 wickets respectively.

Starc’s six-wicket haul also took him to the top of the wicket-takers’ list in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle. He now has 54 wickets from 10 Tests, moving ahead of England’s Josh Tongue, who has 53.

The left-arm pacer needed only one delivery to make an impact, removing Shadman Islam with the opening ball of the Test. Shadman’s leading edge flew to Cameron Green at gully, giving Starc his fourth Test wicket on the first ball of the match.

Starc struck again in the third over, dismissing Tanzid Hasan before trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw with the very next delivery. He then removed Mominul Haque, caught by Green, as Bangladesh quickly slipped into deep trouble.

Litton Das became Starc’s fifth victim after being trapped lbw, completing a remarkable five-wicket haul in just 22 deliveries.

The spell also saw Starc surpass South African great Dale Steyn on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. With his 440th Test wicket, Starc moved outright into 10th place overall and became the fifth-highest wicket-taking fast bowler in Test history.

Starc’s record-breaking performance came at a crucial stage for Australia, who arrived in Mackay trailing 1-0 after Bangladesh stunned them by nine wickets in the opening Test in Darwin.

–IANS

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F1: Antonelli handed three-pace grid penalty at Silverstone for crash with Verstappen

Spielberg, June 29 (IANS) Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix after the stewards found him at fault for a collision with Max Verstappen on Lap 1 in Austria.

After starting from P9 on the grid, Antonelli locked up the rear brakes of his Mercedes into Turn 3, causing him to hit Verstappen’s Red Bull which put both cars out of the race.

Both were summoned to the stewards over the incident, where the verdict was that Antonelli was “fully at fault” for what happened, though it was also acknowledged that the move had been a “result of the evasive action after locking up”.

A document released following the stewards’ meeting stated, “In the hearing the driver admitted that he made a mistake as he locked up the rear wheels while using his regular braking point, but also pointed out that he needed to avoid a collision with Car 30 [Liam Lawson] in front of him and released the brakes for a short period of time to do so.

“Taking evasive action led to the car having less grip on the dirty inside line and therefore he was not able to decelerate the car in a way to avoid the collision with Car 1.

“The stewards determine that, although the incident happened in Lap 1, no other cars influenced the incident and the driver of Car 12 is fully at fault. Therefore the more lenient approach to judging Lap 1 incidents has not been applied in this case.

“However, they also acknowledge that the incident was not a blatant attempt to dive into the corner but rather a result of the evasive action after locking up.”

Given that the teenager was unable to continue in the race, the penalty decided upon was a three-place grid drop for the next race – that being Silverstone next weekend on July 4-6 – as well as two penalty points on his licence.

Speaking after his early exit from the race at the Red Bull Ring, Antonelli said: “I think I had a normal start, then going up to T3 I was just trying to maintain the position. I didn’t want to do anything because I knew there was no space in front, but then when I hit the brake I locked the rear and I got caught by that.

“When I locked the rear, I lost the car and then I had to first avoid the Racing Bull [of Lawson], but then I just couldn’t stop the car. Unfortunately I hit Max and I just feel very sorry towards the team, and him of course.

“I just apologised straight away. I recognise it’s all on me and I just feel sorry because I ended my race, but I ended his as well.”

Verstappen was seemingly accepting of Antonelli’s apology, the World Champion reflecting on the incident said, “Unlucky, I guess. It is what it is. I spoke quickly to Kimi, he came with me to the hospitality. I think every driver has made a mistake like that. No one does that on purpose as well so for me, that’s not a big deal,” said Verstappen post-race.

–IANS

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Brett Lee, Chris Lynn & Shaun Marsh headline Australia Champions lineup in WCL 2025

London, June 30 (IANS) Brett Lee, Chris Lynn, and Shaun Marsh lead a star-studded Australia Champions line-up for the World Championship of Legends 2025, scheduled from July 18 to August 2 in UK.

Joining this elite trio are Ben Cutting , Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and D’Arcy Short—bringing together a perfect blend of experience, athleticism, and raw Australian grit.

Lee is Australia’s fourth-most successful bowler, with 310 wickets in 76 Test matches. He retired from Tests at the beginning of 2010 to prolong his career in the shorter forms. He has 380 wickets in 221 ODIs along with 28 T20I scalps from 25 matches. He finally retired from all international cricket in July 2012.

“Being part of WCL is an incredible opportunity to relive the adrenaline of top-level cricket. Representing Australia again, alongside some of the best mates , is something truly close to my heart. We’re coming with intent—to entertain and to dominate,” Brett Lee said.

Puneet Singh, Owner of Australia Champions, shared, “This is more than just a team—it’s a statement. Australia Champions have been built with legends who defined generations. With Brett, Lynny, and Cutting leading the charge, we’re bringing back the fierce Australian spirit to WCL. Expect fireworks, passion, and pure cricketing brilliance.”

Sanctioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board, the World Championship of Legends is a premier global T20 league that brings together the sport’s most iconic names.

“Australia has always been a force in world cricket, and the WCL is proud to welcome back icons like Brett Lee and Chris Lynn. With a squad stacked with power hitters and fiery pacers, Australia Champions are set to be one of the most formidable teams this season,” Harshit Tomar, Founder & CEO of the World Championship of Legends, said.

–IANS

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‘Ronaldo not obsessed with 1,000-goal milestone,’ says Portugal coach Martinez

Lisbon, March 22 (IANS) Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has dismissed suggestions that star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is fixated on reaching the 1,000-goal milestone, stating that the veteran forward remains focused on team performance rather than personal records.

Ronaldo, who has scored over 950 career goals and continues to lead the line for both Portugal and Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, recently picked up a muscle injury that has sidelined him for a few weeks. The 41-year-old was consequently left out of Portugal’s squad for the ongoing international friendlies as a precaution.

Despite the setback, Ronaldo has enjoyed a strong run of form this season, scoring consistently for his club and maintaining an impressive goals-per-game ratio. His performances have reinforced confidence in his availability for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he is expected to play a key role for the national side.

Rejecting claims of an obsession with individual milestones, Martinez pointed to Ronaldo’s team-oriented approach during recent tournaments.

“I don’t agree with that. If Cristiano had played the European Championship focused on scoring a goal to break another record, the assist against Turkey for Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t have happened,” he said as quoted by Goal.com.

Martinez emphasised that the Portugal squad, especially its senior players, prioritises collective success over personal achievements.

“It’s not true that our players have records or personal goals in mind. The only thing I saw at the European Championship was a different kind of responsibility in the more experienced players, a maximum responsibility to have a top performance in the tournament,” he added.

When asked if Ronaldo had set any personal target, Martinez reiterated that such discussions were irrelevant to the player’s mindset.

“No, because I don’t see Cris playing with the anxiety or intention of reaching 1,000 goals. Whether he has 950 or 1,050 goals, he has the same legacy. It won’t change anything. That’s outside talk,” he said.

The Portugal coach further highlighted Ronaldo’s decision-making and ability to create opportunities for teammates as key aspects of his game.

“We’re talking about a striker who has 25 goals in 30 games. But I value behaviour inside the box much more. And Cristiano doesn’t have the obsession that people talk about from the outside regarding his 1,000th goal. Because his behavior isn’t like that. I can’t say for the club, but here with the national team it’s not like that,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Portugal is placed in a tough group K with Uzbekistan and Colombia in the FIFA World Cup 2026. They will start their campaign on June 17. Ronaldo is expected to lead the side as they aim for their first World Cup trophy.

–IANS

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